Friday, May 23, 2014

Many of us in the jewelry design world struggle over what to do with pieces that don't really fall into the jewelry category. I myself have struggled with this for years. True, making many of these pieces require that same skill set, but the finished product isn't jewelry.

When I first opened my etsy shop I had everything in there - jewelry, badge lanyards, key chains, you name it. But part of the problem with a shop set up like this is that it no longer has a cohesive look. You don't want your shop to be all over the map. I recently read an article about various factors that affect sales, and this is definitely a no-no. According to the article, a cohesive shop not only speaks of a strong brand, but keeps the shopper from feeling overwhelmed with scattered product options. A little tailoring and trimming goes a long way towards presenting a more fluid storefront.

So to help with my lack of cohesiveness, identifying my target market, yada yada yada, I've opened up a second shop. My jewelry shop on etsy, beadifulworld, will slowly lose some of its products as I move them over to my new shop, trinquetts (pronounced liked trinkets, just not spelled the same).

About Me

Beautiful jewelry can give you sense of empowerment. It is a piece that you selected, and possibly helped design, which tells the world how you see yourself. Your jewelry should be an extension of your own personality.

I've always had a passion for jewelry. When I would buy a new outfit, I would immediately head right over to the jewelry counter to find just the right pieces to compliment it. In an attempt to find a hobby, as Oprah would say, I had an "Aha!" moment. Jewelry had always been a vital part of who I am, and it made perfect sense for my new hobby to be making my own jewelry. As I began to perfect my jewelry techniques, my hobby and passion grew. I am now retired and a full-time jewelry designer. The majority of my pieces are one of a kind (OOAK). I enjoy creating all styles of artisan jewelry, but I do lean toward an eclectic style. I especially like hand-forging wire (pounding with a hammer is great for releasing tension!). I use all types of beads, from semi-precious and artisan lampwork beads to less expensive plated beads.

I like to make accessories as well. For example, when I was working, I was required to wear a badge on a horrendous plastic break-away lanyard. Well, that plastic lanyard definitely did NOT define my style so I made my own. Also I am at the age where I occasionally need glasses but don't want to wear an eyeglass holder that looks like something my grandmother would wear, so I make eyeglass holders for those of us that still like a little spice in our life :-)